West Bengal

The land of Tagore and intellectualism, this state in the eastern borders offers tourist sites like Kolkata, Darjeeling, Dooars and the Sundarbans.

A miniature India in itself, comprising the mountains, forests, a large number of rivers, the Gangetic delta and the sea, the state of West Bengal in eastern India is one of the best known tourist destinations of the country. The state has immense geological importance as the Ganges enters its final stage here, and drains the world’s largest delta which is home to the Sunderbans, the habitat of the royal Bengal tiger. The land is extremely fertile and the state has a varied topography that has resulted in widely differing cultures, trends and lifestyles. Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), Shantiniketan, and Darjeeling are the most well known tourist attractions in West Bengal. The state has given the country as many as four Nobel laureates.



Kolkata, which was till recently called Calcutta, represents the glory enjoyed by the British colonial power in India. The Jewel in the crown of the British Empire, India, was ruled from Calcutta till 1911 when the capital was shifted to Delhi. Signs of Colonial past can still be seen all over the city in the form of various monuments, old buildings and street names. The city is often called the intellectual capital of India as numerous intellectuals have made the country proud working or hailing form here. These include the world famous film maker Satyajit Ray and perhaps the greatest Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore. The city also took center stage during the entire freedom movement of India. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Sri Aurovindo and many illustrious names of the pre independence era belong to the city of Kolkata.

Victoria Memorial Hall of West Bengal The city of Kolkata has the most prominent landmarks of the state. These include the Victoria memorial Hall, the writers’ building, Town Hall, The Indian Museum, Asiatic Society, Rabindranath Tagore’s residence, national Library, the strand road, and a host of old churches, temples and other places of importance.

Darjeeling is often called the Queen of the Hills. It is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India and is among the major highlights of tourism in West Bengal. The state has many forests that are rich in wildlife and are known for the leopards and elephant population. The northern region is known for some swift flowing rivers like the Teesta, which is popular among the adventure enthusiasts. There are numerous other tourist attractions in West Bengal that include religious and historic spots. Malda, Murshidabad, Bishnupur, Nadia, and Chandernagore are some of the places known for their historical association, while Tarakeshwar, Bakreshwar, Kamarpukur, Belur , and Dakshineshwar are the famous religious spots.

West Bengal is famous all over the world for its spectacularly vibrant festival known as Durga Puja. The seven day festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga whose victory over a demon symbolizes victory of good over evil. The entire state sports a new look during the festival and the city of Kolkata becomes an exhibition of pandal (temporary structure treated as temple) decoration which showcases some of the most exquisite art work of the region. The state is cosmopolitan in nature and other festivals like Eid, Buddha Purnima, Shiva Ratri, Dipawali, and Christmas are celebrated with equal vigor.

The state is well connected with the rest of the country and the world by all possible modes of transport. The major airports are located at Dumdum, near Kolkata, Siliguri, Coochbihar, and Malda. The Netaji Subhash International Airport is the international airport located adjacent one of the domestic airport at Dumdum, near Kolkata. Howrah Station is one of the major terminals of Indian railways, and has a large number of trains originating, and passing through it. It connects Kolkata to almost the entire country. The state is also connected by the network of national highways to the rest of the country.

Find out more about West Bengal and its tourism in harshitastourism.blogspot.com that offers online information about the tourist destinations of India.

About West Bengal:


The eastern Indian state of West Bengal is a famous tourist destination in the country. The state has as its capital the city of Kolkata which was famous as the city of palaces during the British era when it used to serve as the capital of British India. After the capital was shifted to Delhi in 1911, the city lost much of its grandeur, but even today, it has retained its importance as the cultural and intellectual capital of India. The large number of historic monuments and other famous tourist destinations of the state make Tourism in West Bengal an enchanting experience. Touristplacesinindia.com offers online information about West Bengal, including its tourist attractions, travel tips, and other tourist information.

Fast Facts

Area 88,752 sq. km
Capital Kolkata
Languages Bengali, Hindi, English
Best Time to Visit October to March

History:
The history of the region goes back to the prehistoric times. Being a fertile region drained by major rivers, archaeological evidence of the prehistoric settlements has been lost under layers of mud and soil. However, some evidence unearthed may indicate the existence of such settlements in the region, probably during the Vedic periods of north India. Recorded evidence of the people of the region comes from the Mauryan period, when the region was part of the Mauryan Empire. Bengal rose to prominence under the famous kings like Sasanka and the Pala and the Sena dynasties. The state had once developed as a center of Buddhism and a distinct school of art developed. Islam entered Bengal almost the same time as in north India. The Turkish armies brought the state under Islamic control and a new age was ushered in. Subsequently, the region came under the Delhi sultanate, the Afghans, the Mughuls, their feudatories, and the British. The British ruled India from Kolkata till 1911 which is today the state capital. Independence in 1947 also brought about the partition of Bengal into two parts, east Bengal being included in Pakistan, though it gained independence later and is now known as Bangladesh.

Tourist attractions in West Bengal:
On a tour of West Bengal, you will experience almost everything that India has to offer. The state has everything from the Himalayan foothills in the north, to the shores of the Bay of Bengal in the south. Darjeeling is a famous hill station of India and is the prime tourist destination in West Bengal. The state is also known for some of the best known forests in India, including those in the northern part of the state and the Sunderbans, the vast mangrove forest famous for the Royal Bengal tiger. Historic cities, including Kolkata, Malda and Murshidabad are also major attractions. Kolkata, the cultural capital of India is home to several historic monuments and modern attractions as well.

Climate and other information :
The region remains hot and humid throughout the summer. Temperatures sometimes exceed 40 °C. Monsoons arrive in July and usually continue till September. October to March is a pleasant time as the state enjoys a cool climate during this time. Light colored cotton clothes are ideal for the summers, while light woolens should suffice during the winters. The region receives heavy rainfall during monsoon, and cyclones and storms are quite common.

The state has a large number of hotels that offer a wide range of tourist accommodation. Transportation is very convenient as the state is well connected with the rest of the country by air, railways, roads, and waterways.

West Bengal